Seed dispensing mechanism



April 17, 1945.

SEED DISPENSING MECHANISM Original Fild Aug. 13, 1941 je HENRY u. RA DDE w/L z /Afm HA Das H. H. RADDE ETAL 2,374,132 y.

Patented Apr. 17, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT Ai orificeg SEED n'IsPENsING MECHANISM Henry H. Radde and William A. Radde, Bay City, Mich.

Original application August 13, 1941, Serial No. 406,678. Divided and this application February 24, 1943, Serial N0.476,954

1 Claim. (Cl. 228-218) This invention relates toa seed dispensing mechanism, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and efcient means for dropping single seeds at any given distance of vrows or hills, and for spreading fertilizer in anyl given amount. j

. A further object of this invention is the production of seed dispensing mechanism which is especially designed for planting sugar-beet seed, but which may also be used for planting other seed such as corn,A peas, beans, and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claim.

This application is a divisional application from our previous application relating to a Sugar beet seed drill and fertilizer attachment, filed August 13, 1941, Serial Number 406,678, now Patent Number 2,354,541.

'In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the supporting frame showing the seed dispensing mechanism in position, the hopper being shown in horizontal section;

'Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the seed dispensing mechanism, certain parts being shown in vertical section;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an irregular sectional view taken onv line 4-4 of Figure 2.

By referring to the drawing it will be seen that I designates the main frame which carries a transverse shaft II. 'A hopper I2 is carried by the frame I0 and the shaft l I passes transversely therethrough. The hopper I2 is provided with a seeder wheel chamber I3 at its lower end,.and .a seeder shoe I4 extends from this chamber I3 below the seeder wheel I5. The seeder wheel I5 is rotatably mounted at the lower end of the chamber I3, and is provided with an annular flange I6. 'I'his ange I6 is provided with radial seedreceiving apertures or pockets Il extending from the periphery and through the iiangev I6. Headed seed ejector pins I8 are slidably mounted in the apertures I1, the heads of the pins limiting the movement of the pins in one direction., A stationary circular plate I9 is fixed to the shaft II and this plate I9 is supported inwardly ofthe annular flange I6 by a bracket 2li. A roller 2| 'l is carried within a notch 22 formed in the bottom edge of the circular plate I9 just above the shoe I4 and in a position to provide rolling contact with the inner ends or heads of the headed pins I8 as theypass under the roller 2I.

As the wheel I5 rotates, the seed, one or more at a time, will drop into the 'apertures 23, in the periphery of the wheel I5, since the pins I8 are pulled inwardly toward the center of the wheel I5 as described in the following. As the wheel I5 rotates in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2, and as the headed pins I8 come in contact with the lroller 2|, these pins I8 will be forced outwardly toward the periphery of the wheel I5 and the seed will drop down through the shoe I4. The wheel I6 is carried by the shaft II and is driven by an integral sprocket 24 over which sprocket 24 passes a driving chain 25. This chain 25 may be driven from any suitable source of power. A cradle I2a is suspended from the hopper I2 and carries the shoe I4, thecradle I2a acting'as a track-way for the lowerportion of the periphery of the wheel I5. v

A split cam shoe 26 is carried by the plate I9 and'is adapted to straddle and vengage the pins I8 under the heads thereof, as the pins I8 pass longitudinally of the shoe 26. The shoe 26 will pull these pins I8 inwardly in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 4, to provide seed pockets .in the outer ends of the apertures I1. The positive in wardpulling of the pins I8 by the shoe 26 will prevent the pins I8 from sticking in the apertures I1 and thereby insure the entrance of seed into the outer ends of the` apertures I1. A wiper gate 21 is hinged above the upper end of the flange I6, as shown in Figure 2, to wipe the outer edges of the flange I6, as the wheel lvrotates to direct the seed from the hopper I3 into the apertures 23.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a lVery simple and eicient machine has been provided for dropping single seeds` in any given distance of rows orA hills, depending upon the spacing of the seed-receiving apertures within the wheel I5 and the speed 'at which the wheel is driven. rlhrough the medium of the present device, seed may be saved for the reason that the seed may be'economically and evenly distributed, considerable labor will be saved by eliminating blocking and thinning as is usual with many planters now in use.A e It should be understood that the shoe 26 and the heads of the pins I8 may be constructed in Vany suitable manner to facilitate the withdrawing of the pins I8, by the shoe 26. For instance, the

Suitable detail changes may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, Whai-I is claimed is:

A machine of the class described comprising a one position, headed pins fitted in said pockets, 10

a. roller contacting said headed pins for moving y the pins outwardly of the pockets and forcibly ejecting seed from the pockets when the wheel is in another selected position, and a stationary cam shoe having inturned`anges tting under Said headed pins for positively and forcibly pulling the pins inwardly of said pockets -as said Wheel rotates to a predetermined position.

HENRY H. RADDE.

WILLIAM A. RADDE. 

